Cinematograph machine adapted for advertising purposes



' May 1, 1923.

1 ,454,001 W. E. G. SMETHERS CINEMATOGRAPH MACHINE ADAPTED FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES Filed July 19, 1922 MIMWWLMHIHHHHMHM W Fu ani-ii wan.

-Pat efnted 'May 1 1923.

' "UNITED STATES w'lLLIAm EwART GEORGE SMITHERS, OF KINGSTON-ON-THAMES, ENGLAND.

CINEMATOGRAPH MACHINE ADAPTED FOR ADVERTISINGPURPOSES.

Application filed July 19,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM EWART GEORGE SMITHERS, of 104: to 114 London Road, Kingston-on-Thames, in the county of Surrey, England, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cinematograph Machines Adapted for Advertising urposes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n cinematograph machines, and it relates more particularly to cinematograph machines adapted ,for giving continuous displays in shop windows and the like, for advertising and other purposes.

The objects of the invention comprise the provision of a device compact and self-contained, and adapted to give a continuous cinematograph display by continuously repeating the projection of any one film, the

device being so arranged as to accommodate a suflicient length of film for each complete representation, to last such a time as to make the same attractive.

A further object is to provide a device of the kind described, adapted to be arranged in a shop window, or business premises, or

I so

the like, and to be suitable for projecting in either daylight, or when it is dark, as maybe desired.

other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, relative location and arrangement of parts, all as will be more -fully hereinafterset forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is carried out as follows, and is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevationof the device,with

the lower panels removed, and the upper ones shown partly broken away.

Fig.2 is a front elevation.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device, and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line A-A. of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. v

Referring to the drawings, a projector E, which may be of any convenient type, having the usual film feeding means, is disposed in the upper portion of a conveniently shaped, and preferably rectangular case 2, which may be constructed of wood, metal,

gitudinal brackets or supports ll.

1922. Serial No. 576,072.

or other convenient material or materials. The projector is mounted on two metal, wood, or like rods 3,v longitudinally disposed within the casing, and conveniently secured to the ends thereof. A plurality of cross members or tie-rods 4 may also be provided, to ensure the strength and rigidity of the projector. A small electric motor 5 for driving the film feed mechanism, is also mounted on the said rods 3, being preferably 7 secured inslots by means of bolts 6, or in any other convenient manner, this motor being connected in series with an ordinary electric lamp of suitable shape and candle power in the housing 7, for the purpose bf providing the necessary light source, the lamp being placed in a suitable position for projecting light through the film. A single switch 8 operates both the motor and the lamp. I

in the lower portion of the casing 2, a plurality of spools or rollers 9, of a type to be described, are arranged, these rollers being disposed in two or more rows. rollers 9 are rotatable on spindles l0, sup=-' ported in suitable bearings, provided in lonlit will generally be sullicient to arrange the said rollers in two series, one at the bottom of the casing, and the other immediately beneath the rods 3 covering the projector and motor, the object of the said rollers being toaccommodate a considerable length of endless film to be run over them in the comparatively small space provided by the easing, a further object being to ensure that the film in its travel will not be creased or damaged in any way.

In order to allow the apparatus to be ad a justed for varying lengths of endless film, the distance between the two. sets of rollers 9 is variable. i

in the form illustrated in the drawings, this object is achieved by providing four vertical supports 12 at the lower corners of the casing, these supports having a plurality of holes '13. by means of which the lower bracket 11 'can'be carried at a varyingdistance from the upper bracket. 1

If desired, the upper series of rollers 9, and any other additional set or sets of rollers, if such additional set or sets are employed, may also be varied for a like purpose.

These spools or rollers are formed with two peripheral shoulders 14, and acentrally recessed portion 15, being so constructed that lit? only the outside edges of the film 16, and not that portion of it which carries the picture;

will bear on the rollers. In this way, friction on or scratching of the central portlon of the film is avoided. An endless film is used, and is passed in this way backwards and forwards from the upper to the lower series of rollers, and from-there, over suitably disposed rollers 17 attached to the projector itself. A jockey pulley or adjustable spool 18 may also be provided at a convenient point in the path of the film to take up any slack. After passing through the projector, the film in its travel, returns to the lower portion of the casing over the guiding rollers 19, conveniently disposed for this purpose.

In order to insert the film in the device, it will be preferable to do so, either 'betore the two ends of the same have been joined together, or if desired the various rollers can be removed from their seatlngs by means of the nuts 20. Any other convenient means for making the rollers removable can also be employed. If it is desired .to be able to insert the film after its ends have been joined, sultable means of any known and or convenient type must be provided for opening the feeding device, by means of which the film is fed past the lenses. In order to prevent stretching of the film, due to the continuous length thereof being continuously under tension, an

auxiliary feed 21 is provided in the path of the films travel at any convenient point intermediate between the two sets of rollers 9. This feed may consist of the usual type of wheel having pins or projections thereon adapted to mesh with the slots cut in the periphery of the film for the purpose of feeding it forward, the said wheel being rigidly-secured to a chainwheel and rotated by means of a chain 22 driven from the projector and synchronously with the projector feed. A screen 23, which may consist of ground glass or the like, is provided at the front of the upper portion of the casing, the distance between the said screen and the projector lenses being such as to admit of accurate focussing. Hood members 24 are also provided for the purpose of putting the screen into shadow when that should be necessary, in order to produce a clear representation of the picture. These hood members are preferably attached by means of hinges or the like to the exteriorof the casing, so that these may be folded over each other and provide a protection for the glass screen during transit. Hooks 25 engaging with eyes 26 may be provided for holding the said hood members in any desired position. Spring clips or any other convenient supporting means may also be employed. The

casing may be closed by means of doors, sliding panels, or the like, one of which 27, has been shown in the drawing broken away. A

plurality of legs 28 of adjustable length may be provided for raising or lowering the height of the device from the floor on which it is supported.

The operation of the device is as follows l The film is inserted in the machine passing to and fro over the rollers 9, the distance between the upper and lower sets of rollers being suitably adjusted by means of the supports 12. From these rollers the film passes into the upper part of the casing through the projector, over guide rollers 19,

.and back to'the series of spools 9.. After insertion of the film, the two ends are joined together by a-suitable solution, or in any other convenient and orknown manner. By operating the switch 8, the projector lamp and motor 5 are put into operation at the same moment as the film commences to travel through the projector, being fed forward both by means of'the projector film feed and by the auxiliary feed 21. The two feeds acting synchronously with each other cause the film to be moved forward evenly and with a minimum amount of wear, and a continuous display of the picture will then be provided on the screen 23, the picture repeating itself over and over again, whilst the machine is in motion. If desired, the hood 24 may be extended so as to throw the screen 23 into shadow, thereby increasing the clearness of the representation.

In the event of any stoppage occurring, the danger of fire is reduced, firstly by reason of the small power of the projector lamp, which is rendered possible by reason of the short distance between the projector and the screen, and by the fact that a sin le switch disconnects both the lamp and t e motor.

If it is desired to exhibit a film of exceptional length, this can be provided for by. arranging one or more additional sets of spools 9, so as to accommodate a greater length of film. Using two sets of spools as illustrated in the drawings, a sufiicient length of film can be accommodated ina casing adapted to be put in the window of an ordinary sized shop, to provide a display lasting approximately three minutes, before it repeats itself.

Shorter lengths of film can be accommodated by adjusting the distance between the upper and lower sets of spools by means of the supports 12, or in any other convenient manner. The adjustable legs 28 permit of the height of the screen above the floor being adjusted as may be required.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a simple and eflicient means for producing a continuous cinematograph dis- It is not desired to limit the invention to the particular type of projector described and illustrated, which per se forms no part of the present invention, or of the particular details of the arrangements of the two or more sets of spools provided as these and other details may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

ll claim 1; Means for providing continuous cinematograph displays in shop windows and the like, adapted for use either in daylight or Y darkness, having in combination a casing, a screen at one end of said casing adapted to show on its outer surface pictures prov jected onto its rear surface, a projector having film feeding means mounted within said casing and behind said screen, means within the casing for driving said projector an endless film passing over a plurality ot sets of rollers arranged in the lower portion of said casing, means for varying the distance between the sets of rollers so as to accommodate for varying lengths of film, and au:: iliary film feeding moans disposed at a convenient point in the travel of said film over said rollers and driven by and synchronously with the main film feed.

2. Means forproviding continuous cinematograph displays in shop windows and the like as claimed in claim 1, in which the iilm is driven by an electric motor connected in series with the projector lamp. said lamp and motor being controlled by a single switch.

3. lileans for providing continuous cinematograph displays in shop windows and the like, as claimed in claim 1. in which adjustable legs are provided for the purpose described.

In witness whereof I ailix my signature.

l JllililAlt l ,EWART GEBRGE Sl /il'll'lERS.

il itnesses FRANK B. DEH1\[.,- W. H. RACKHAMS. 

